Hightower running back Joshua Wilhite (3) is dragged down by North Shore defensive back Keon Harvison

Photo By Smiley N. Pool/Houston Chronicle

North Shore running back Davonte Milton is brought down by Hightower defensive back Joshua Thomas during the first quarter of high school football playoff action at Abshier Stadium on Friday, Nov. 18, 2011, in Deer Park.

Photo By Smiley N. Pool/Houston Chronicle

Hightower's Bralon Addison (2) loses his helmet as he is hit by North Shore's Chris Lee (44) during the first quarter of high school football playoff action at Abshier Stadium on Friday, Nov. 18, 2011, in Deer Park.

Photo By Smiley N. Pool/Houston Chronicle

Hightower's Bralon Addison (2) runs after losing his helmet as North Shore's Kevian DeLeon gives chase during the first quarter of high school football playoff action at Abshier Stadium on Friday, Nov. 18, 2011, in Deer Park. The play was whistled dead at the point where Addison lost his helmet.

Hightower had the best player on the field at Abshier Stadium. That often makes a difference in the playoffs, especially if he’s highly motivated to redeem himself against that day’s opponent.

Bralon Addison quickly put last year’s game against North Shore — when he was held to negative rushing yards in an atypical performance — behind him, rushing for 109 yards in the first half.

The Texas A&M pledge went on to finish with 159 rushing yards and three touchdowns (two passing), leading the Hurricanes to a 34-21 win Friday night in the Class 5A Division I Region III area playoffs.

“Addison did his thing,” said Mustangs coach David Aymond, clearly impressed. “It seemed like he was involved in everything, from fielding on-side kicks to calling for a fair catch on a kickoff.

“It’s like every time you saw a ball he was touching it and making things happen. He had a great game. They’re a good football team and everything revolves around him.

“He makes plays.”

Hightower (10-2) is 2-2 in its growing playoff rivalry with North Shore (8-4), alternating wins over the last five years. The last time it beat North Shore in 2008 it played for a state championship.

Next up for the Hurricanes is either Cy-Fair or Cinco Ranch at 1 p.m. Nov. 26 at Tully Stadium. Addison’s not sure who he’d rather face.

“Can we just have a third-round bye?” he joked. “They’re both great teams and it’s going to be a heck of a battle next week.”

He didn’t prepare for this week’s battle with the Mustangs, who beat them 44-20 in area last season, by studying what they’d done well. He was only interested in what he didn’t do well last time.

“Last year, it was my first year starting at quarterback as a junior,” said Addison, who was 3-of-15 passing for 53 yards. “I was real young, and they did something to me that was my first time seeing.

“This year, going into this game, I really didn’t watch a lot of film of the teams they played this past season. I watch our game from last year a lot. … I was really focused on the game plan that I knew they were going to have for me — and that’s to keep me contained.”

It didn’t work.

He gained his first-half yards on just 10 carries, helping the Hurricanes answer North Shore’s opening TD for a 7-0 lead with scores on their next four possessions for a 24-7 advantage at halftime.

The Hurricanes had over 200 rushing yards in the first half and finished with 370, with Joshua Wilhite accounting for 158 yards and one touchdown.

“Josh has been banged up all year,” Addison said. “He’s a great running back, and we knew once he got back healthy (he’d be good).

“That game last week, him being able to rest a little bit, he’s feeling pretty well this week and he had a great game. I think that’s what pushed us over the top.”

North Shore, playing without UH pledge Larry McDuffey (knee) — its top playmaker — had just 205 total yards. It trailed 34-7 with eight minutes left before two late TDs, one on a 72-yard fumble return.

But the Hurricanes chewed up more than 12 minutes of clock on two possessions prior to those scores, leaving too little time for a comeback.